The Terrible Awful Chainguard

[Cowlitz]

Today I decided to tackle the job of cleaning and lubing the chain on my Gazelle Arroyo. I'd been studying it for a while. There is a plastic chainguard that covers the entire chain. This is supposed to protect you and the chain and keep both cleaner. But it took a while for me to figure out how to access the chain. I had looked at it off and on since buying the bike.

Then one day, when it was up in the back of the pickup and the sunlight hit it just right, I saw a screw. Yup, you gotta reach in with a phillips scredriver and carefully take out a screw. There is probably only one type of screw that is only available from The Netherlands on the day after a full moon so I was very careful about not dropping the screw. The arrow points to the black screw which is well hidden.


I tipped the bike over, removed the piece of chainguard and proceeded to clean the chain, two inches at a time. Then a wipe with a cloth two inches at a time, and lube and another wipe two inches at a time. I was out in the sun and it hit 60 degrees here so that made up for the slow process. Then it was time to put the piece back on the bike. I tried it with the bike upside down. No luck. I tried it with the bike on the ground sideways...no luck. Finally I loaded it into my pickup and was able to snap the guard piece back on and carefully screw it back onto the bike.

I love this bike--It's a pleasure to ride, but maybe I should have looked at it more carefully before buying it? If anybody has any secrets about the chainguard, I'm interested.

 

[fooferdoggie]

my bulls Bosch bike has a chain guard that won't come off without taking the crank arm off. you cant get to the front chain ring. its hard token get the chain back on if it falls off.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

This might say more about my personality than about chain guards, but I've removed the chain guard from every bike I've ever owned since I was 11 years old. Then I tuck my shoelaces in and use a velcro strap around my pants leg, if I am wearing pants.

 

[Deacon Blues]

Chain guard or not, your chain will get dirty as you ride. Cowlitz, looks like you should take off your chain guard, clean and lube your chain, and then leave your chain guard off. As Mr. Coffee stated, use a velcro strap to keep your pant's cuff away from the chain.
Taking off and reinstalling a chain guard should never be that hard.

 

[Nova Haibike]

If you think lubing your chain was fun, just wait until you get a flat or have to change the tire.

 

[Cowlitz]

fooferdoggie, I am sure that is the case on this bike.

Mr Coffee, I'm thinking about doing that. I've seldom gotten shoelaces or pants caught in a chain, but I have gotten a grease mark on pants or leg.

And I intend to learn what screws and nuts must come off to change a tire. I think there are 4. Since the local part time bike shop is in a smaller part time frame, I'll need to travel an hour to a bike shop and right now isn't a good time for that. So I'm trying to figure things out on my own. Tire changing may be easier to figure out than accessing the chain.

The Gazelle has a small display so I took that off and refastened it where it wouldn't get smooshed, and then moved the mirror position before placing the bike upside down. That worked well.

 

[indianajo]

Mr Coffee, I'm thinking about doing that. I've seldom gotten shoelaces or pants caught in a chain, but I have gotten a grease mark on pants or leg.

I use a 2" binder clip from the office depot to hold my pants to the outside. Now costing $6 for 6.
I'm happy now my bodaboda didn't come with a chain guard.
I've wound the shoelace around the pedal and had to stop. No solution to that except the double knot, which requires actual near vision to untie. I'm not going to carry reading glasses with me when I bike. Those curly laces the wife bought me, I'm not going to try to push the bike home 6 miles with untied shoes. Which I have to do every year or two when I ruin two tubes in 10 minutes, or the axle drops the balls, or the tire splits open. (no more 7 year old tires, however good the tread looks).

 

[Dewey]

That's bothersome, the previous model Arroyo had a smaller removable rear piece you simply squeezed together to remove. Pages 30/31 on this Aussie manual has some photos of various Gazelle chainguards.

 

[TOOSLOW]

my bulls Bosch bike has a chain guard that won't come off without taking the crank arm off. you cant get to the front chain ring. its hard token get the chain back on if it falls off.

Not sure why the chain guard was not one of the first items you removed and discarded from your bike.
Bulls guards rattle, and are only held on by several metal tangs and they move somewhat on the crank arms. Really are more of a nuance than anything.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Mine is a bit different I have thought about it but I don’t have to worry about. My pants. But I don’t have the tools to remove it

 

[TOOSLOW]

Mine is a bit different I have thought about it but I don’t have to worry about. My pants. But I don’t have the tools to remove it

If I was close by, I would lend my assistance.

 

[fooferdoggie]

If I was close by, I would lend my assistance.

it only becomes a hassle when the chain pops off. otherwise it has not really been a issue. I always used to forget to use Velcro and now that I ride more it would be a problem. but its silly you have ot have a crank arm remover to take it off.

 

[TOOSLOW]

it only becomes a hassle when the chain pops off. otherwise it has not really been a issue. I always used to forget to use Velcro and now that I ride more it would be a problem. but its silly you have ot have a crank arm remover to take it off.

You really are missing the experience of playing with aftermarket chainrings. Turns your ebike into a completely different riding experience. So drop the guard, pulling the crank off a Bosch motor couldn't be simpler, buy some different chainrings, and wheeee, were having fun now !

 

[fooferdoggie]

well I got a crank puller so I could clean the chain ring it was not bad no built up gunk. but I don't think it is a good idea to not have a chain guard on there. if the chain comes off and it does once in awhile it could be a big problem getting hooked onto the crank arm. so I have to get a lock ring remover and a guard.

 

[Cowlitz]

And nothing built on the bike rattles. The pannier does and I do but nothing else. It's a really nice bike for me.

 

[Camac]

If you need to secure your pants leg from catching on the chain ring fold it over at the cuff and tuck it in your sock. Worked for me from the middle of last century.

 

[steve marino]

The chain popping off points to a mechanical problem that needs to be fixed. No way that should be happening. Like Mr. Coffee, I've removed the chain guard on every bike I've ever owned, mainly because they've all gotten bent or out of alignment and rubbed the chain at some point.

 

[fooferdoggie]

You really are missing the experience of playing with aftermarket chainrings. Turns your ebike into a completely different riding experience. So drop the guard, pulling the crank off a Bosch motor couldn't be simpler, buy some different chainrings, and wheeee, were having fun now !


View attachment 47788

well I finally got all the parts with the slow shipping but the chain gaurd is too small for my larger cog but is also would need a washer as it hits the chain. I cant find the parts to do this.